In a poignant plea ahead of the much-anticipated consecration ceremony of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Purnima Kothari, the sister of Ram Kumar Kothari and Sharad Kumar Kothari, who lost their lives during the Ayodhya firing incident in 1990, has vehemently opposed the inclusion of any Samajwadi Party members in the guest list. The tragic events of November 2, 1990, continue to haunt Purnima Kothari, who asserts that the then Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Mulayam Singh Yadav, ordered the firing on kar sevaks, including her brothers.
Expressing her deep-seated grievances, Purnima Kothari emphasised that Mulayam Singh Yadav and others responsible for the tragic incident should not be extended invitations to the consecration ceremony. The Kothari brothers, active participants in the Ram Rath Yatra of 1990, were among the kar sevaks who planted a saffron flag atop the disputed Babri Masjid on October 30, 1990, leading to the fatal clash.
In an exclusive interview with India Today TV, Purnima Kothari called for accountability, stating, “I think the people who ordered the shooting should not be invited to the consecration ceremony. They should be punished.” She further urged for legal action against those responsible for the orders that led to the loss of lives.
Recalling Mulayam Singh Yadav’s 2017 speech justifying the use of force, Purnima Kothari expressed her dismay, quoting Yadav’s assertion that security forces would have killed more people for the sake of the country’s unity and integrity. Strongly disagreeing with Yadav’s justification, she insisted that a case should be filed against those involved in the tragic incident.
Ram Kumar Kothari and Sharad Kumar Kothari were 23 and 20 years old, respectively, when they lost their lives during the clashes. The death toll during the confrontations on October 30 and November 2, 1990, is a subject of dispute, with the BJP claiming a higher figure than officially acknowledged.
As Purnima Kothari prepares to attend the consecration ceremony of the Ram Mandir, she reflects on the 33-year-long wait for justice. Despite the personal tragedy, she highlighted the deep-rooted involvement of her brothers in the RSS ideology and the religious milieu they grew up in. Purnima expressed her parents’ unwavering commitment to the cause, noting that despite the fear of police action, they sent their sons for kar seva, believing in the nobility of the cause.
In conclusion, Purnima Kothari asserted that her brothers’ supreme sacrifice had not been in vain, and she hopes that justice will prevail, urging for the exclusion of those responsible from the upcoming historic event in Ayodhya.
